IAN data used to analyze trends in ASD diagnosis

For Immediate Release
March 26, 2009

A paper entitled "Trends on Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses: 1994-2007," based on data submitted by families participating in the IAN Research project, has been e-published by the Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders and will appear in the hard copy version of the journal shortly.

Analysis showed that diagnostic practices have varied over time and by patient race, ethnic group, and geographic location. They have also varied by type of evaluator (such as psychiatrist, developmental pediatrician, neurologist, or school-based team). Write the researchers:

“Our study suggests that the while autism or autistic disorder is consistently applied, current classification is not stable for atypical ASD and PDD-NOS; even Asperger’s syndrome remains poorly translated for school-based teams. Use of ‘ASD’ for apparently mild autistic disorder is further evidence that the current taxonomy, including PDD-NOS, is unsatisfying for many evaluators. We hope that this analysis may inform the development of DSM-V classification, to make it more relevant to providers other than psychiatrists and psychologists, particularly in light of increasing evaluations by school-based teams.”

Read the abstract: Trends in Autism Spectrum Disorder Diagnoses: 1994-2007.